Wireless power transmission device using frequency multiplier and method thereof

Abstract

There are provided a wireless power transmission device using a frequency multiplier and a method thereof. The wireless power transmission device using the frequency multiplier includes a signal input unit configured to receive a first alternating current (AC) signal, a frequency multiplier configured to output a second AC signal having a higher frequency than the first AC signal using harmonic components of the first AC signal, and a power transmission unit configured to transmit power by receiving the second AC signal. Accordingly, a complex structure in which an AC signal is converted into a DC signal and the DC signal is converted into the AC signal again in order to generate the AC signal for the wireless power transmission can be simplified by the frequency multiplier. Moreover, it is possible to efficiently and wirelessly transmit low power required for ambient scattered sensor nodes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless power transmission device, comprising:
 a signal input unit configured to receive a first alternating current (AC) signal;   a frequency multiplier configured to output a second AC signal having a higher frequency than the first AC signal using harmonic components of the first AC signal; and   a power transmission unit configured to transmit power by receiving the second AC signal.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first AC signal is leakage power or interference power generated in an electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the signal input unit includes an antenna. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the frequency multiplier is an active or passive frequency multiplier. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the frequency multiplier includes:
 an input impedance matching circuit configured to match an input impedance of the first AC signal;   a non-linear element; and   an output impedance matching circuit configured to match an output impedance of the second AC signal.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the non-linear element receives the first AC signal matched by the input impedance matching circuit, outputs the second AC signal by generating harmonic components of the matched first AC signal, and delivers the second AC signal to the output impedance matching circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the non-linear element is a diode. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the non-linear element is a transistor. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a constant voltage generator configured to generate a DC voltage from the first AC signal and provide the voltage to the transistor. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second AC signal is output using a second-order harmonic wave of the first AC signal. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the power transmission unit includes a source resonant unit configured to transmit power using a resonance characteristic of the second AC signal. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the power transmission unit includes a primary inductive power generator configured to generate an induced current using the second AC signal. 
     
     
         13 . A wireless power transmission method, comprising:
 receiving a first alternating current (AC) signal;   outputting a second AC signal having a higher frequency than the first AC signal using harmonic components of the first AC signal; and   transmitting power by receiving the second AC signal.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first AC signal receives leakage power or interference power generated in an electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein, in the outputting of the second AC signal, the second AC signal is output by generating harmonic components of the first AC signal using a non-linear element that is either a diode or a transistor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein, in the transmitting of the power by receiving the second AC signal, the power is transmitted using a resonance characteristic of the second AC signal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein, in the transmitting of the power by receiving the second AC signal, the power is transmitted by generating induction power using the second AC signal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second AC signal is output using a second-order harmonic wave of the first AC signal.